EVENTS
Ginkgo Trees: Ancient Wonders and Edible Treasures
Join master forager and author, Tama Wong, at the Morris as we discover the fascinating world of one of the oldest living tree species on Earth: Ginkgo biloba! Known as a "living fossil," the ginkgo tree offers a unique lens into plant evolution, cultural heritage, and urban ecology. We’ll delve into the ginkgo’s symbolic and medicinal roles in East Asian cultures, as well as its uses in traditional and modern cuisine in this engaging and sensory-rich course!
A highlight of the program will be a hands-on workshop focused on the preparation and roasting of ginkgo nuts. Students will learn safe handling techniques, explore its culinary uses, and participate in a tasting session—connecting botanical science with cultural tradition. This afternoon of experiential learning will be centered around one truly remarkable tree!
Saturday, November 15
1:00 – 3:00 pm
Register here: https://experience.morrisarboretum.org/Info.aspx?EventID=35 then search for “Tama”
or email us to register at jade.meadowsandmore@gmail.com
Morris Arboretum Workshop
Eat the Weeds! Foraging and Cooking with Tama Wong
Tama Matsuoka Wong, Forager, Meadow Doctor, Lawyer, Author, and Owner of Meadows + More
SPRING is the time when people are tired of winter root vegetables, but it is still too cold for most farmed vegetables. This is the perfect time to explore the bounty of forageable, delicious "weeds" right at our feet in the Mid-Atlantic region!
Join Tama for a morning of exploring the most delectable of these wild plants in the Morris’s meadows. Tama will break down common assumptions about what is ugly, what is useless and what is unwanted by gleaning and making delicious use of unwanted ‘weeds.’ After an introduction, the group will go on a walk and learn how to forage for common spring edibles. You’ll learn the historical background and harvesting tips of some of the most common wild edibles in the Mid-Atlantic region. Then Tama will discuss the cooking and preparation of these edibles, and we will share bountiful tastes of wild edibles and ideas for incorporating them into every meal!
NDAL Virtual Workshop
Host: New Directions in the American Landscape (NDAL) virtual
About: Many a gardener, flower lover, or backyard farmer hates that most dreaded of garden chores: getting rid of weeds. Tama Matsuoka Wong offers a new approach to many plants deemed undesirable: manage them, turn them into delicious food, teas, structures....in other words reap their abundance. A self-described "failed" gardener turned garden contrarian, she looks to cues as to what plants grow wild naturally in situ and, besides that, sells many pounds of invasive weeds to markets and chefs. On a more personal level, she will share with you the "why" of her latest book Into the Weeds: How to Garden Like a Forager (Hardie Grant North America 2024): why weeds sit at the juncture of our food, environment and health, and how to use the most common weeds that grow around you.